Our Readers Say: Community generous to shelter animals

The Redlands Police Department’s Animal Control Unit provides a safe, healthy, and loving environment for lost, stray, or unwanted animals.

The Police Department is committed to helping reduce the population of unwanted pets by spaying and neutering all dogs and cats that are adopted from the shelter.

Last year, the shelter facilitated the adoption of 836 dogs and 442 cats.

The cost of spaying and neutering each animal varies between $47 and $120, depending on the gender and weight of each animal.

The spay/neutering expense incurred by the shelter each year has always exceeded the budgeted amount.

In December, the shelter sought donations to replenish the spay/neuter account, and there was a series of articles published by the Redlands Daily Facts.

As a result, during a three-week period, community members donated $19,203, as well as $2,000 in donations of food, toys and other necessities.

The Redlands Community has once again stepped forward and provided the funding necessary to help protect the pets in our community.

On behalf of the Redlands Police Department’s Animal Control Unit, I would like to publicly thank everyone for their generous donations to the Redlands Shelter.

I would like to further extend our appreciation to all those who generously volunteer their time and efforts to the Redlands Shelter so that we can accomplish our mission.

With only three full-time employees and one part-time employee, the shelter is dependent upon volunteers from the group REDFOSA and the Redlands Police Department Volunteers in order to continue to provide a high level of service to the community seven days a week.